RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Bubba Wallace says to get the shot like he did.
Brad Keselowski says he hasn’t decided yet whether to get vaccinated against COVID-19. In contrast, Austin Dillion and reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Chase Elliott say it’s a personal choice and no one else’s business. However, throughout motorsports, Dillon’s Richard Childress Racing team hosted a voluntary vaccination clinic on-site for employees and their families.
Which has long prided itself on face-to-face access for fans and glad-handing time with sponsors, approaches to stifling the spread of the coronavirus that has cost the sports world billions still vary greatly. In IndyCar, teams are pushing toward 100% vaccination. But in NASCAR, with a fan base traditionally more conservative in its Southern strongholds, it is the rare driver who touts vaccination.
One of the few is Wallace, the new-this-year 23X1 team co-owned by NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and NASCAR star Denny Hamlin. Like RCR, 23XI had a mass vaccination day for employees and their families at its shop. Wallace also partnered with Novant Health to address the hesitancy some have to get vaccinated; after CNN showed him receiving his jab, the 27-year-old Wallace said he’s trying to lead by example.
Wallace is the only Black driver in NASCAR‘s top series, and the Black community has been especially hard hit by the pandemic, which has claimed more than 561,000 lives in the United States alone.
“I’m not trying to shove it down people’s throats,” Wallace said Friday. “I’m just saying, `Hey, I’m comfortable taking this route to get us back to a normal capacity in all aspects of life.’” Wallace’s former boss retired great Richard Petty, filmed a promotion showing him getting vaccinated, but few others have taken such steps.
“I think it’s a personal decision that everyone has a right to, and so, accordingly, I think once it’s open to everyone, those who feel comfortable getting it should certainly get it if that’s what they want to do,” said Keselowski, the 2012 Cup Series champion. “I haven’t decided on what I’m going to do.”
His crew chief has. Jeremy Bullins said: “I don’t have it yet, but I have an appointment scheduled.
With talk that NASCAR would like to – local governments permitting – begin increasing the number of fans at races and perhaps allow sponsor access into the garage, Bullins said it’s an easy choice.
IndyCar is preparing to kick off its season at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, this weekend, and Mark Miles, president, and CEO of Penske Entertainment Corp. said, “Somewhere around 90% of the team personnel will be vaccinated, and I think that’s going to continue to move up.” “I read this weekend they’re going to start letting fans back in,” he said. “From that regard, I think our sport is not sustainable without fans, and I think the level of access we’ve always provided is second to none compared to other sports.”
